One of Photoshop’s greatest powers lies in its ability to preserve complex transparency. By employing masks, both in layers and embedded into the saved files as alpha channels, this transparency data can travel seamlessly into the nonlinear editing (NLE) or motion-graphics environment.

Want a free excerpt from the new edition of Photoshop for Video?

Learn about layer masks, alpha channels, and selections — http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1617518

A nice source to find royalty free or public domain licensed music you might want to check out http://freemusicarchive.org/

"The Free Music Archive is an interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads. The Free Music Archive is directed by WFMU, the most renowned freeform radio station in America. Radio has always offered the public free access to new music. The Free Music Archive is a continuation of that purpose, designed for the age of the internet.
Every mp3 you discover on The Free Music Archive is pre-cleared for certain types of uses that would otherwise be prohibited by copyright laws that were not designed for the digital era. Are you a podcaster looking for pod-safe audio? A radio or video producer searching for instrumental bed music that won't put your audience to sleep? A remix artist looking for pre-cleared samples? Or are you simply looking for some new sounds to add to your next playlist? The Free Music Archive is a resource for all that and more, and unlike other websites, all of the audio has been hand-picked by established audio curators."

For all the European geeks... I'll be teaching at the IBC conference in Amsterdam September 11 & 12.

• Producing HDSLR Video Shoots - Essential Planning for Successful Productions
• Motion Control 3D: Adding Perspective and Movement to Photos
• Photoshop for Video Professionals
• Motion Graphics Workflow with Adobe Creative Suite
• Transcoding and Editing Strategies for HDSLR Post Production

Hope to see you there!

Here's a great article on cool application for the iPhone and iPad. Twenty-two apps that help video pros and filmmakers.

"The iPad and iPhone have taken the world by storm. Only very recently have filmmakers started to see their potential in a production environment. The iPad has only been out a few months and we are already seeing it used in some very creative ways.

For this feature we have rounded up some of the best and most useful Filmmaking Apps that our Deal Leader Steve Jobs has approved for the App Store. As more filmmakers explore the possibilities with these powerful mobile devices, we are sure this list will continue to grow"

Get the whole article here – http://filmmakeriq.com/2010/07/22-filmmaking-apps-for-the-ipad-iphone/

• Have talent/interviewee bring an alternate set of clothing.
• Herringbone, stripes, or small patterns do not look good on camera.
• Keep jewelry simple.
• Do not allow interviewees to wear bright white. Cream, eggshell, or light gray are preferred.
• Utilize a make-up artist. People give a better interview when they look good. Decision-makers favor approval copies when their people look professional.
• Maintain eye contact throughout the interview.
• “Edit in the Camera.” Encourage short answers and come back to topics again. Better to focus on good, tight answers, than trying to cobble together six takes to make your point.
• Avoid enumeration or the phrase “Like I said before.” It is highly likely that you may use step three, without steps one and two. You also wouldn’t be asking the question again, if you were happy with what the answer was “before.”
• Don’t be afraid to stop and start over. Do not let an answer ramble on. Smiles and nods encourage subjects that they are ‘on-target.’
• Relax.

We've been using storage systems from Drobo in our shop for quite some time now. We've got the entire office wired so we can share HD video projects to any workstation. We've also been backing up files from our HD shoots with Drobo Pros. We've been quite happy with the arrangement and Drobo asked us to explain our workflow.

You can check it out here – http://drobo.com/resources/vm_video-storage.php

Looking for a good comparison of audio and video codecs. We've found a great comparison of digital video, audio, and graphic formats. They've also got some great shortcut guides posted for Avid and Final Cut Studio applications. http://worldwide-studios.com/Worldwide_Studios/Resources.html

My presentation on Photoshop CS5 from Adobe's booth at NAB. A highly condensed presentation with lots of info.

'

You can see it here too – http://tv.adobe.com/watch/adobe-at-nab-2010/adobe-photoshop-cs5-for-video/

Join Apple certified trainer Richard Harrington as he takes you through the color correction features of Final Cut Pro. As a leading author, trainer and presenter, Rich cuts to the chase, giving you access to the most important information fast.

Final Cut Pro's Color Corrector is the first wave of color tools. Whether its because of time of budget, you'll often need to get your project right inside of Final Cut Pro. Addiitionally, most of the work you can do in Final Cut Pro will translate to Apple Color if needed. Being able to improve your footage in a fast and efficient manner improves your rough cuts, and helps speed client approval!

Richard is an expert at motion graphic design and digital video. Since 2003, he has been the manager for conferences for the National Association of Broadcasters. His book, Photoshop for Video, was the first to focus on the use of the masterful Photoshop within the world of video production. He is also a contributing editor for Final Cut Pro on the Spot, Video Made on a Mac, and From Still to Motion.

The master series DVD includes hands-on practice files. So instead of watching, you can actually get real practice. There is also extra footage with which you can practice. The movies are also in an iPad/iPod compatible format so you can carry your lessons around easily!

Richard Harrington's Final Cut Pro Color Correction by Richard Harrington
SALE! PRE-ORDER NOW! Ships July 1st.

List Price: $49.95 COW Price: $39.95

Get it here – http://store.creativecow.net/p/80/richard_harringtons_final_cut_pro_color_correction

Did you miss part 3? Keynote for iPad – Designing with Magic Move

The most common style of animation on a slide is a build, an animation that sequentially reveals the slide content. When used appropriately, builds can focus your audience’s attention on the current topic.

Builds are often used to reveal lines of text as you click. Some effects animate the entire text box at once; others break up the text by word or character before animating. All text animation is controlled within the Inspector window.

Design Tip
The key with text animation is to find a tasteful balance of animation that enhances the audience's concentration (as opposed to distracting them).

To Add a Text Build

Keynote offers several builds that can be applied to text. These range from subtle transitions that work well for bullet points to dramatic reveals for title slides.
1. Tap the animate button . Keynote prompts you to select a slide or object.

2. Tap the text on the Canvas that you want to animate.

Buttons appear near the object, indicating any build effect that has already been applied.

If no build effect has been applied, both the build in and build out buttons are labeled “None.”

3. You can now choose to add an effect that reveals (build in) or removes (build out) the text. Tap the “Build in” or “Build out” button, depending on how you'd like the text to move onto or off of the slide. The Build In or Build Out window appears.


4. Tap the name of an effect from the Build In or Build Out window. You can scroll to choose from any of 21 effects for text builds.
Once you choose an effect, a preview animation plays automatically. You can click the play button in the Build In or Build Out window to repeat the preview.

Customizing a Text Build

While the build animations are ready to use, Keynote does allow you to change the speed, timing, and order of a text build. These options give you greater control over your presentation.

Once you've selected an animation in the Build In or Build Out window, you can customize it.

• To change the duration of a build, tap the Options button at the bottom of the Build In or Build Out window. You can then drag the duration slider to adjust the speed of the animation.
  

• To specify when a build starts, tap the Options button at the bottom of the Build In or Build Out window. On Tap begins the animation when you tap the slide.
  After Transition lets you set a time interval with the Delay slider. You may need to scroll in the window to see all options.
  

• To build a text block in segments, you can click the Delivery button. Depending upon how you've formatted your text, you'll see choices like All at Once, By Paragraph, or By Bullet.
  

The Delivery option is only available after you've applied a build in or build out effect.

Coming Soon Part 5 – Keynote for iPad – Animate a Chart, Graph, or Table on a Slide

Did you miss part 2? Keynote for iPad – To Customize a Transition

An easy way to create visually stunning animations is with Magic Move. You apply Magic Move to two instances of an object on two slides. Magic Move can animate changes (such as scale, position, or opacity) between the first slide to the second.

Note
The easiest way to use Magic Move is to create the first slide and then let Magic Move duplicate it.

1. Create a slide and arrange all the text and graphic objects, as you'd like them to appear.

2. Tap the animate button. Keynote prompts you to select a slide or object.

3. Select the desired slide

4. Tap the name of the slide transition that appears next to the selected slide (it may be None).

5. Tap Magic Move in the Transitions window and tap Yes, when prompted to duplicate the slide.
The slide is duplicated and a second copy appears in the slide navigator.

Note
You'll notice star icons next to each object. These indicate that the Magic Move transition has been applied to those objects.

6. Arrange the objects how you'd like them to appear.


Design Tip
You have lots of flexibility when using the Magic Move transition. You may choose to modify the objects on the first slide (so they appear to move in to their landing positions on the second slide). You can also animate the objects on the second slide to add emphasis to one or more objects.

To make things easier, you can use a two-finger pinch gesture to zoom out and see the slide and your work area. This can be useful to have elements transition completely off of the slide.

7. Adjusting the timing of the effect is easy. Tap the original slide in the slide navigator and then tap Magic Move to open the Transitions window again.

8. Tap Options at the bottom of the Transitions window.

• You can set a duration for the effect between 10 and 5.00 seconds.
  • Choose whether to start the transition when you tap or automatically after the previous transition. You can also set a delay for how quickly the transition begins after the previous slide.

Be sure to read Part 4 – Keynote for iPad – Creating Builds to Reveal Text

I have two iPhoto training titles released today from Peachpit Press and they've lowered the price to $8.99. I am very proud of these and hope you enjoy them. For you pros... its perfect for your family members/parents. These are two very cool titles that I made especially for the iPhoto users out there.

iPhoto: Fix Your Photos – http://tinyurl.com/iphotofix
The videos provide easy to follow tutorials that help you fix common problems with pictures. You'll learn how to straighten and crop, adjust dark photos, and bring out the color in your snapshots. You'll also learn how to fix soft focus, red eye, and overexposed photos. Whether you're new to iPhoto or even an experienced user, you'll find useful techniques and powerful shortcuts to get your work done faster. Each lesson includes hands on files so you can work along with the instructor.

iPhoto: Share Your Photos - http://tinyurl.com/iphotoshare
The videos provide easy to follow tutorials that help you share your pictures over email or post them online to services including MobileMe, Facebook, and Flickr. You’ll also learn techniques for making slideshows and creating your own blog. Whether you're new to iPhoto or even an experienced user, you’ll find useful techniques and powerful shortcuts to share your photos easily. Each lesson includes hands on files so you can follow along with the instructor.

Apple has released a new demo of what is possible with HTML 5. This is a very cool gallery of how the new technology can be employed.
Here's the top demos – http://www.apple.com/html5/showcase/gallery/

Web developers can learn more here – http://developer.apple.com/safaridemos/
In fact the developers page has 14 demos.... including a very cool movie trailer viewer and Photo Gallery.

If you missed the free e-seminar on using Adobe Creative Suite for DSLR video, you can check it out here. We cover Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, and Bridge. Be sure to check out the part on using Photoshop to color grade video files nondestructively.
I'm also amazed at Premiere Pro's ability to handle native DSLR video with no transcoding or rendering (good stuff!).

We focus a lot on DSLR video, but all video pros and photographers will learn something. You can watch the class here online (give it a minute to load).

Working with DSLR Video with Adobe CS5 Production Premium

https://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/_a561260173/p57397558/

Richard Harrington, a trainer for FMC, shows how to use white balancing in FCP to make up for improper white balancing on the camera.

Sample motion graphic created for The Johnson Group's documentary, Bedford: The Town They Left Behind. The film went into limited release in theatres across the country.

I am working up some new tutorials on the techniques... leave comments about what you want to see.

You can see it in HD here.

Here's a short free tutorial here.

I always like free stuff... especially good free stuff.

Here's the link – http://www.idustrialrevolution.com/idrplugins/freebiepack1/index.html

How do you take a great still photo with your video-enabled DSLR camera? That's easy, shoot in photo mode. You'll get the best quality and even the option of using a raw format. But what happens if you've got the perfect shot, except you're in the middle of recording a video clip? The good news is that you can export stills directly from a piece of video. There's just a few limitations.

Resolution limitations of video

You might be thinking to yourself “Isn't video really low resolution?” Yes, when compared to the native size of photos taken with your DSLR, video pales in comparison. But for many uses, such as web or newspaper, you can get enough pixels out.
Currently the highest resolution you’ll get exporting a still from a piece of video that originated on a DSLR is 1920 x 1080 or approx 2.1 megapixels. While you aren’t going to make any panoramic prints of those frames you can still find a lot of great uses for them. If printing at 300 ppi, you can extract a frame that is about 6.5 X3.5 inches – in fact a lot of the figures that you’ve see in this book are from video clips.
Read More...

I'm all for more paths into the living room for content creators. But I can't help feel that we've already tried this a few times.

If you've been looking for a comprehensive guide on greenscreen this is it. Jeff covers everything from preproduction through shooting and post. Jeff's a great teacher who's passionate about his subject.

You can get a few samples of the book here for free, but be sure to check out the whole thing.

• See how to plan, set up, and execute your shots to reduce fixes in post
• Choose the right keying process for your project
• Master basic shooting setups and live broadcast keying
• Understand proper lighting and how to match subjects to the background
• Create a working storyboard and learn how to select and direct talent
• Composite your footage and fix problem shots
• Work creatively with virtual sets, motion tracking, and match moving
• Master techniques that apply to all compositing software and plug-ins

Richard Harrington, a trainer for Future Media Concepts, shows how to use time-lapse photography to create video clips.

FMC trainer Richard Harrington demonstrates how to share and publish projects in a variety of formats.

FMC trainer Richard Harrington discusses how the Blending Modes feature can be used to lighten a dark shot, or impart various stylistic changes.

Use FCP, Aperture or Logic? Be sure to download the Apple ProKit 5.1 update to fix memory leaks –


About ProKit 5.1 (Leopard & SnowLeopard)
This ProKit Update fixes issues with user interface software resources that are shared by Apple's professional applications.

• The issues addressed include:
• Corrected an issue with improper scrolling behavior.
• Resolved memory leaks for improved performance.
• Addressed layout of interface elements in certain application alert windows.

The update is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Aperture, Final Cut Express, Soundtrack, Logic Pro and Logic Express.
Get it here – http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1008

If you're a media pro... here are a few iPhone/iPod Touch apps to check out. I've not played with all of these yet, but they've all been recommended to me (or I've used 'em).

• Movie Slate
• Storyboard Composer (formerly Hitchcock)
• Blue FiRe
• Moviola Pro Video Guide
• Final Cut Pro Field Guide
• DVD Bit Budget Assistant
• Helios Sun Position Calculator
• AJA DataCalc
• PhotoAssist

Learn how to add copyright information to your videos upon import with Aperture 3. Just a short tip (banged out in the basement with my new Yeti mic to give it a test).

I've been quite happy with Aperture 3, but like many of you... I looked forward to the first update to address minor bugs. Well it's here! Apple released two updates: Aperture 3.0.1 which has several bug fixes and a digital camera update to add support for several camera models.

About Aperture 3.0.1
This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of issues in Aperture 3, including:

• Upgrading libraries from earlier versions of Aperture
• Importing libraries from iPhoto
• Importing photos directly from a camera
• Memory usage when processing heavily-retouched photos
• Face recognition processing
• Adding undetected faces using the Add Missing Face button
• Printing pages containing multiple images
• Printing photos and contact sheets with borders and metadata
• Editing photos using an external editor
• Display of images with Definition and Straighten adjustments applied
• Zooming photos in the Viewer and in the Loupe using keyboard shortcuts
• Accessing Aperture libraries on a network volume Selecting and moving pins on the Places map
• Adding and editing custom locations using the Manage My Places window
• Switching between masters when working with RAW+JPEG pairs.

The Digital Camera update also added several new cameras to Aperture and iPhoto.

• Hasselblad H3DII-50
• Leica M9
• Leica X1
• Olympus E-P1
• Olympus E-P2
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
• Pentax K-7
• Pentax K-x
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A850

Here's two free resources to help you out

• Video Made on a Mac: Greenscreen Solutions
• Creative Chromakeying handout from Photoshop World

With Aperture 3, Apple has fully embraced video acquired on DSLR cameras. In fact, you can now manage video and audio files as easily as any other image in your library. If you are used to using Aperture as part of your photo editing workflow, you'll find the addition of audio and video support quite welcome.

Importing Video

Video and audio files are added to your library in the same manner as any other image. You can import files directly from a memory card or from a hard drive. It is important to decide where you want to store the files before you import them. Follow these steps to choose a location and import your files:
1. Select a project or album then click the Import Files button in the toolbar.
2. Navigate to the desired files in the File Browser at the bottom of the main window (this can be files that already exist on hard drive or a memory card).


3. Select the check boxes for the desired clips. You can also click the Check All or Uncheck All buttons at the top of the window.


4. In the right column, choose a destination for the files. Specify where you want the files to be located in Aperture:

• Click a project or folder in the Library pane to target it.
• Choose New Project from the Destination menu to create a new project to hold the imported items.

5. Specify the media management approach you'd like to use. Click the Store Files menu and choose one of these options:

• In the Aperture Library moves the files into a managed library. These files can be exported but will be copied to a new location.
• In their current location leaves the files where they are located. This is the best approach if you've already copied your video files to an editing drive.
• Your User folder is available (and is labeled with your default name).
• The Pictures folder in your home directory is another option.
• Choose lets you specify another location. This option works well when you want to target a specific drive (such as your project's media drive). The Choose option can be used to copy the media from the camera memory to an editing location.

6. Click Imported Checked when you’re ready to add the files to your project. The files are then added to your library.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP Read More...

It's almost time for NAB – The National Association of Broadcasters Conference. If you want a free NAB pass for show floor or to save $100 on any conference — then here's a great offer. Thanks to Creative Cow, visit http://tinyurl.com/nab10cow and enter code CC01 and save — good thru February 19.

(February 5, 2010) Canon's EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple's Final Cut Pro was released today. This new plug-in allows simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro.

The EOS E1 video plug-in takes advantage of Final Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer feature, which allows users to select and mark the video directly while it is still on the camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips in the background so the editing can begin immediately.

The EOS E1 video plug-in is a free download available at http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/finalcutstudio/. The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro 6 or higher and currently supports Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV cameras.

I found a great series on YouTube... an old show called Horizon from the BBC. This episode is entitled "How to Film the Impossible" and features an in-depth look at Industrial Light and Magic.

Here is part one



The other parts are after the jump

Read More...

There are lots of reasons to use Premiere Pro (even if you’re a Final Cut Pro editor). One of the most compelling is to organize After Effects projects.

1. Create a new Premiere Pro project and match its settings to your primary footage format.
   2 Import a folder of QuickTime movies into a Premiere Pro project. You can even import a Final Cut Pro XML file to bring a sequence in without needed to do anymore media management.
2. Edit the clips as needed into sequences.
3. After your clips are edited, just select them and press Command+C to copy them to your clipboard.
   5 Switch to an open After Effects project and press Command+V to paste the clips using Dynamic Link. The clips (with handles) will move from Premiere Pro to After Effects.

For more tips like this, check out the book Video Made on a Mac.

Starting with Photoshop CS2, Adobe introduced a new feature called data sets. This allows you to create a set of data that applies variable text, variable visibility settings, or pixel replacement for art layers. This is a great feature for use with templates, especially those for lower-third titles.

By harnessing the power of data sets, you can dramatically speed up the production of repetitive graphics. In fact, by feeding in a text file, hundreds of lower-third graphics can be generated in a few clicks. The advantage of this method is that a producer or production assistant can gather all of the needed names and titles into a single text file (easily created with any word processor). This file can then be loaded to generate as many graphics as needed. While the process is a little tricky at first, it’s pretty easy to get the hang of.

Read the complete article over at Layer Magazine for free...

A fascinating documentary on Ray Harryhausen who is a prolific stop motion animator. Some of his work you may have seen includes The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts, and Clash of the Titans.



Read More to see parts 2–6

Read More...

Just got an email from the Center for Environmental Filmmaking which is offering a $1,000 prize.

They are running a contest for filmmakers to create a short, funny video for YouTube which communicates a clear message that strongly motivates a specific behavior change (for example, driving a fuel efficient car, turning down thermostats, or donating to a conservation cause).

Submissions must:

• Be humorous!
• Address a critical environmental issue
• Be an original production
• Reach a broad audience beyond just environmentalists
• Be less than 4 minutes

Submissions are due by March 1, 2010. The winner will be announced at American University on Tuesday, March 23 at the DC Environmental Film Festival.

For more information regarding submission guidelines and contest rules, visit: http://www.environmentalfilm.org.

Creative Cow's NAB Party Announced – Join Me & Dread Zeppelin on Monday Night. Details here.... tickets will be free - but limited. It's AWESOME!

"Well, it's official. Monday night, April 12, 2010, at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino finds Creative COW: YEAR 10 in full swing with a closing set by the legendary Dread Zeppelin. We are celebrating because 2010 marks the 10th year of Creative COW, and who better to welcome COW members to Las Vegas than a reggae-based band of killer musicians playing Led Zeppelin hooks with an Elvis impersonator leading the band?"

Here's the details.

Our friends at the Peachpit User Group Program are making a special offer for all Mac User Groups who are interested delivering both great information on video production and a great price on a Peachpit book to their members.

Peachpit would like to give your group a unique opportunity to provide your members with high-quality articles and video instruction from Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman’s critically acclaimed Peachpit book, Video Made on a Mac: Production and Postproduction using Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite absolutely free.
Get more information – here

Want to refine a multicamera edit? Learn how to harness the power of trimming to refine the timing of your shots.

To download sample files, visit www.peachpit.com/videomac.

Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman are both Apple Certified Trainers and have an extensive background in video production. They talk with publisher Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel about their new book Video Made on a Mac: Production and Postproduction Using Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite, explain who it is written for, and reveal why the Mac is their platform of choice for professional endeavors.

I head to the Editors Retreat event in Miami tomorrow (this is my sixth time going - it's that good). Lots of great networking and training events for all. I'll have some resources (and hopefully one of my sessions posted this week). Hope to see some of you at the event.

An intensive, interactive environment for TV, video and film editors that fosters creativity and the exchange of ideas at the highest level.

• Four Days of Sessions in Multiple Tracks.
• Award-Winning Keynote Speakers.
• Daily Social Networking with Experts.
• Numerous Prizes.

Want to learn how to do a basic computer monitor calibration? Check out this video.
To download sample files, visit www.peachpit.com/videomac.

Check out this video on making secondary corrections in Final Cut Pro. Secondary corrections are corrections that affect only part of the picture. They’re very useful for fixing problems or creating looks.

Want to compress your footage to another format and add timecode burn in at the same time? With Compressor you can! Be sure to check out this step-by-step video as we add timecode burn in via Compressor. You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.

Apple's ProRes Codec is a great tool for professional video editors. Apple has released a version that let's PC users and editors read the files created on a Mac. This is great for video and mograf folks. It's a free download. I made a new tiny URL for my Windows friends.. http://tinyurl.com/prorespc

We've been playing with the new Drobo Elite at our offices at absolutely love it. It's a great 8 bay unit (for desktop or rack-mount). It's fast enough for HD video editing, it can expand as you grow, and it works fantastically well.

Join me for an educational seminar on Thursday, December 10, 2009 where we review how it (and the rest of the Drobo line) can benefit video editors, motion graphics artists, and videographers.

The event starts at 8:30 AM Pacific / 11:30 AM Eastern. Its a 30 minute seminar and you can ask any questions you want.

We've been putting it into play with our tapeless workflow and have been very pleased.

Sign up for your spot here – http://bit.ly/7vhDJr

Want to see a real-world calibration of a camera using OnLocation? Be sure to check out this video for a detailed demonstration.You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.

It's always nice to get name-checked on Scott Kelby's blog (he is the number one technology author in the world after all).

"Just Released: “Editing Video Shot With Your DSLR” Online Class

Video guru, photographer, and Photoshop World instructor Richard Harrington just released a new online class at Kelby Training Online called Editing Your DSLR Video on a Mac, and it answers so many questions about this booming new area of creativity for photographers. If you’ve got a DSLR that shoots video, you’ve got to catch Rich’s class (here’s the link)."
Thanks Scott – He called me a photographer... guess I'm moving up in the world =)

The RØDE mic significantly extends pickup for the camera. This is the Rode VideoMic with PG1 Pistol Grip. We've also added the DeadCat Windshield.

There are several manufacturers that make external microphones that are designed to be attached to your camera. Manufacturers like RØDE offer specialty microphones mount on your hot shoe. The microphones can be plugged into the “mic” port on your camera.

Read More...

Head on over to ProVideoCoalition and check out my new article – an in-depth overview comparing the Canon 5D, Canon 7D, Nikon D300S, and Red One. Lot's of other goodies and a ton of video clips as well.

I've launched a new Facebook group for those interested in DSLR video.

The page serves two purposes.
1. I'll share what we're learning about DSLR Video.
2. I'll let you know things about the new book and DVD I'm developing.

I hope you can stop by and join us.

We've got a ton of video clips posted to give you ideas.

We've also opened a forum, so please post a question or comment.

Have you seen our new book? Be sure to check out the Facebook group for more resources.

We've also got a new podcast series too with free tips and practice files. Web or iTunes for free.

"On a Mac, the sky's the limit for creating professional video. With all the tools available though, it can be a daunting task to decide which ones offer the best solutions for combined efficiency and high-level results. How can you effectively communicate your vision to clients and crew? How should you calibrate your camera for multi-camera and green screen shoots? Is it better to do your keying in After Effects, Motion, or Final Cut? How should you set up your edit suite for efficiency and accuracy? How do you manage large amounts of media and a multitude of formats for multiple software applications?

In Video Made on a Mac, you'll learn the answers and much more. Chock-full of practical advice and step-by-step instructions, each chapter provides insight on the critical components of production and postproduction that can make all the difference when you're up against a tight budget and schedule. The accompanying DVD supplies you with project files and high-definition footage so you can follow along with the examples, as well as 50 training videos. Whether you're an advanced Mac user or just beginning to incorporate Adobe Creative Suite into your Final Cut Studio workflow, you'll learn to apply best-practice techniques to all your video projects."

The Motion Graphics 09 Fest is coming to DC. It runs November 18-22

Here's the full schedule
http://mgfest.com/09/WashingtonDC/

Here are the educational workshops
http://mgfest.com/09/WashingtonDC/workshops.php

Here are the social functions and screenings
http://mgfest.com/09/WashingtonDC/artevents.php

This is a great chance to network with pros from both DC and abroad. Hope you all check it out...

I've always been a huge Arrested Development (AD) fan since college. Many haven't realized that the band has continued to release new music at a regular pace.

Here's their latest music video, shot entirely with a Canon 7D camera. Been studying up on this process as I am in the middle of co-authoring a book on DSLR filmmaking right now.

Enjoy!

Arrested Development - "The World Is Changing" from James Edwin Myers Jr. on Vimeo.

Arrested Development - "The World Is Changing"

Vagabond Records and Tapes

A Pony Ghost Production



Director - James Edwin Myers Jr.

Producer - James Edwin Myers Jr.

Co-producer - Bob Butler

Executive Producers - Arrested Development

DP - Troy Stains

Editor - Justin Miller

Colorist - Troy Stains

Set Construction - Bob Butler

Production Design - David Van Arsdale

Stylist/Wardrobe - Harley Pelayo

Makeup - Fawn Ortega

PA/Grips - Mike Williamson, Justin Chapman



This music video was shot entirely on a Canon 7D with Canon lenses.

Recharge Your Creativity and Craft • January 13 - 16 • Miami Beach, Florida

Now in its fourth year, the Editors Retreat has become an annual gathering for the post-production elite. Highly experienced editors from the worlds of film, TV and video gather to network, exchange ideas, share tips and of course, have fun!

Past keynotes and attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Stuart Bass, Chris Franklin and David Helfand as well as Apple, Adobe and Avid experts and industry power users. Attendees have included representatives from HBO, FRONTLINE, MTV, Lockheed Martin, Harpo Productions and Telemundo.

Running for 4 days and 3 nights, the Retreat offers advanced sessions on post visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. An equal amount of time will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors.

To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process. Visit www.EditorsRetreat.com for the full schedule and more details.

Attendees all receive a huge goodie bag! Right now its valued at over $4500 in gifts:

• Megasuite from Digieffects $799
• Plug-in from Automatic Duck $495
• Plug-in Collection from CGM $199
• Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 $799
• Free Training Course from FMC $1,500
• NAB Post Production Conference Pass $895
• Music License from Free Play Music $100

Adobe has announced that the next version of the software will run on 64-bit Operating Systems only. It's not all the apps in their suite, but the apps that will most benefit.

"It’s common knowledge among post-production pros that 64-bit operating systems are the best choice for top-of-the-line performance, especially when producing HD or higher-resolution content. After 3 versions of simultaneous 64 bit and 32 bit support for After Effects and Premiere Pro, we wanted to let you know today that CS4 will be the last version of Adobe’s leading video applications to support 32 bit operating systems."

Simon Hayhurst – The Senior Director of Product Management for Dynamic Media

Check out the news here.

• http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/adobe/story/the_future_is_64_bit/
• http://blogs.adobe.com/keyframes/

 

Our new podcast, Video Made on a Mac, is in the New and Notable section of iTunes.

Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman show you how to create professional video on the Mac. In this series, they share videos and project files using real world examples in Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite. From pre-production to post, and accomplishing it all within a tight schedule, this podcast series gives you a sample of what you can learn using their book, Video Made on the a Mac.

Be sure to visit the site to get the free downloadable files or order the book. Be sure to use the code VMMBOOK at checkout to receive a discount.

The new podcast is brought to you by the fine folks at Peachpit Press.

Canon announced today their plans for adding 24P video to the popular 5D Mark II camera. Here's the press release (with my comments in italics).

Canon today announces that it is currently developing a firmware update to the EOS 5D Mark II to enable the recording of high definition 1080p video at 24 and 25fps.

This is good news.... but no mention of shooting at 60P in 720 mode like the 7D. That is more exciting to me for the options for slow motion effects.

The decision to develop new firmware to support these features has been taken following feedback received from cinematographers and photographers.

Can you say overwhelming feedback, forum posts, and blog posts. Wow... nice to see some companies actually listen to their customers.

Introduced in September 2008, the multi award-winning EOS 5D Mark II was the first DSLR product to offer full frame 1080p HD video recording, opening up a multitude of new creative possibilities for photo journalists, news photographers and amateur filmmakers.

Amateur... PLEASE. Could companies please stop talking down to their audiences. The camera and proper lenses and gear is a minimum $7,000 investment. That's not amateur. Also... can anyone tell me the difference between a photo journalist and a news photographer?

Since then, Canon has continued to develop its groundbreaking EOS Movie functionality, firstly with the firmware update to the EOS 5D Mark II that enabled manual exposure control, and more recently by introducing a choice of video recording frame rates with the EOS 7D and EOS-1D Mark IV

Both nice cameras and worth exploring. We're writing a book and shooting a music video right now with the 7D and 5D. We'll let you know about the process more soon..

Adorama also has a nice head to head coparison of the new Canon EOS-1 and Nikon D3S

Canon currently expects the firmware update to be made available during the first half of 2010. An announcement regarding details of the update and its availability will be made closer to the release date.

So please stop complaining... and asking us when... oh and first quarter means March 31... or maybe NAB in April.

View the original here.

For a quick overview on creating video budgets with Apple Numbers, be sure to watch this informative video. You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download the budget template.

Leave it to Disney to release something visually stunning. This is a great example of tilt shift photography and timelapse animation at the same time.



"See the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida from a whole new perspective. The exclusive video first featured on The Disney Parks Blog was created from a series of photos snapped inside the Magic Kingdom Park. Its a sunrise-to-sunset story told without words."

This is really a nice view.

Peachpit Press has posted a free chapter from the new DVD Studio Pro book. They have a free chapter and hands on media files on how to create custom DVD menus (just click the Sample Content tab).

You can view it here as well a check out the whole book.

"Updated for DVD Studio Pro 4.2.2, this best-selling, Apple certified guide uses striking real-world footage to build four complete DVDs and share a Blu-ray disc. It covers how to use DVD Studio Pro on its own, as well as how to integrate it into your workflow with Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, and Compressor 3.5. Each lesson takes you step-by-step through an aspect of DVD creation and finishing, with hands-on projects for you to complete as you go."

I came across two great links today for some great DSLR Video.

The first entry shows some great footage from Egypyt and Lebannon shot with the Canon 5D

Egypt / Lebanon Montage from Khalid Mohtaseb on Vimeo


The next footage comes from Japan and I believe it is using the overcranked footage from the Canon 7D

The Moments Between, Episode 1: Japan from Trey Ratcliff on Vimeo.

In case you missed it, Nikon announced an upgrade to their top product line. A new model, the D3s is coming soon. The camera looks to be a great upgrade, although for video lovers it's still using Motion JPEG compression (which is much grainier than H.264). The camera does over several other improvements that make it a nice upgrade.

• Scott Bourne has a nice write up on his blog
• So does Moose Peterson

Me? I'm still playing with my D300S and will have more to share on video mode soon.

Check out our new podcast series. Join Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman as we show you how to create professional video on the Mac. We share videos and project files using real world examples in Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite. From pre-production to post, these podcasts gives you a sample of what you can learn using their book, Video Made on the a Mac. You can use the code MACVIDEO for 35% off and free shipping.

Watch the latest FREE episodes:
• Organizing Images with Bridge
• Prepping Storyboards for Animation

Looking for another way to key? Be sure to check out this video for a detailed demonstration of keying with Keylight in After Effects. You’ll also learn a few advanced tricks to finalize the shot.

One way to address color calibration between your angles is to use a calibration card when shooting. This is relatively easy if you just remember to put a fresh color balance card on your clapboard for each shoot.

One of our favorites is the QP Card, an affordable reference card (http://www.qpcard.se). Priced at less than $5 per card, this is a great investment in accurate color.

1. They are small and lightweight, easily fitting in your gear bag.
2. Relatively inexpensive and disposable, so you can use a fresh card periodically. Old cards tend to fade in the light.
3. It’s adhesive on the back so you can easily attach it to your clapboard.
4. With a white, black, and neutral grey surface, color correcting with Final Cut Pro’s three-way color corrector is a snap.
5. $7 spent per shoot is well worth hours saved on color correction. In most circumstances, just three clicks per angle will calibrate across each camera.

Need to know the latest about Final Cut Studio? Want to look something up about ProRes from your iPhone? Hate those big printed manuals that waste paper?
While its not a revolutionary step (others like Adobe have already placed their docs online) it is still a welcomed event. Some might wonder if trimming the manuals out allowed the huge price cut?
Regardless… the manuals and an even better Workflows document are now online.
The Apple documentation team has converted all of the documentation for the web.  It is freely searchable and can even be linked to if you need to point to a specific article to help a colleague (an even nicer way to say RTFM).
You’ll find them here at http://documentation.apple.com/
A great document is also the “Final Cut Studio Workflows.” It’s a little hidden within the Final Cut Pro help library: http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutstudio/workflows/
It offers great ideas on how Final Cut Studio applications fit into a post-production workflow.  You’ll also find practical guidance on how Final Cut Studio apps work with one another.
Enjoy.

Yes we all new it would eventually come… the “new Final Cut Studio” was announced. We’ll let the cheers and moans begin after a few days of testing the final release (just ordered mine 30 minutes ago).
But there are a few surprises.. mainly price! Here’s the great news (especially in this economy)
Final Cut Studio 2 – NEW was $1,299 the new Final Cut Studio – NEW is $999
Here’s the best news Final Cut Studio 2 upgrade – was $499 - $699 the new Final Cut Studio upgrade – is $299
I have confirmed… doesn’t matter which version you are upgrading from… I took it right to Apple and got a straight answer.
That is $299 for ANYONE to upgrade from a full copy of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Studio (except Student or NFR copies).
More on new features soon… but let me just say:
In the current economic client, it’s truly appreciated to see software pricing that respects the long-term customer.  This is a no-brainer upgrade… speed and power without pinching your wallet.  Thanks Apple… I mean it!
Full press release HERE

Live from the Voices That Matter conference, San Francisco, author Richard Harrington discusses the factors that have caused online video consumption to grow exponentially over the past few years.



Live from the Voices That Matter conference, author Richard Harrington reveals what’s next beyond YouTube and why offering consumers the ability to download your content is imperative. He also talks about Facebook’s platform, video user statistics, demographics, what constitutes an optimal distribution plan for publishers, and why “video is the new photography.”

I wanted to share a little work in progress file.  I find After Effects tremendously useful for resizing video.  In fact I use it often to pre-process footage before applying additional codecs.

What I’ve put together here is a Resizer project.  It allows you to quickly convert an HD file (720 or 1080) to 50 different output formats.  The file is quite simple to use, and covers output sizes ranging from SD, to Presentation Software, to Web, to iPhone.

This is a work in progress… but I’d love to get your feedback.  To learn how to use it (and get the file) keep reading....

First off… download the resizer template from here (Resizer_Template.zip). It is an After Effects CS4 project. There are two files, both are identical.  The .aep is a project file, the .aet is a template file that will create a copy automatically when you open it.

Read More...

Two weeks ago, I told you about our new group on Facebook for those interested in New Media. Many of you asked us to post the training videos to iTunes. We did.

You’ll also find 6 hours of free video training to check out on their site. I’m one of the organizers of the group and I hope you can share this info with others. The group is free... the video is free... knowldge is free... let’s make a difference.

Here are the six videos you can watch (in HD even).

• New Media Boot Camp – slides
• Facebook 101– Why all the Buzz? – slides
• Podcasting and Government – slides
• Blogging to Reach an Audience – Does Anyone Care What You Have to Say – slides
• It’s all About Mobility – Reaching Audiences on the Go – slides
• Producing Video for the Web – Best Practices for Big Results – slides

Enjoy.

Are you looking to stay up on the latest news and network with other new media professionals interested in efficient government? Be sure to check out this Facebook group which helps connect the public and private sectors in this important cause.

You’ll also find 6 hours of free video training to check out on their site. I’m one of the organizers of the group and I hope you can share this info with others. The group is free... the video is free... knowldge is free... let’s make a difference.

Here are the six videos you can watch (in HD even).

• New Media Boot Camp – slides
• Facebook 101– Why all the Buzz? – slides
• Podcasting and Government – slides
• Blogging to Reach an Audience – Does Anyone Care What You Have to Say – slides
• It’s all About Mobility – Reaching Audiences on the Go – slides
• Producing Video for the Web – Best Practices for Big Results – slides

Enjoy.

“Across the Production Premium toolset, Adobe has provided increased support for metadata… [pause for audience applause]. What? You didn’t clap? Well metadata is pretty dang important—it can speed up your editing, improve collaboration, or even make your videos more accessible on the Web. Sure, it’s not as enticing as yet another tutorial on making things glow, but give it a shot.”

Continue to the Layers Magazine website to see the full tutorial for free.

Seems like times are changing... Apple (and more importantly, movie studios) have decided to start offering high-definition movie sales and rentals through the iTunes Store. This is yet another sign that consumers want digital downloads (and are willing to pay a fair price). Let’s hope more studios come on board.

Starting today, movie fans can purchase box office blockbusters for download in HD for $19.99 from iTunes, and films will be available as iTunes Movie Rentals in HD for $4.99 within 30 days after release. Customers can enjoy these films in HD on their Mac or PC and on their widescreen TV with Apple TV, as well as in standard definition on their iPhone or iPod with video.

The fine folks at Focal Press have decided to release two free updates. The popular books Photoshop for Video and Creating Motion Graphics both have free updates for the Creative Suite 4 release.

Even if you don’t have these two books (which I’d really suggest you check them out)... the CS4 updates are absolutely free.

• The Free Photoshop Update
• The Free After Effects Update

Peachpit Press has released a cool series on reasons to upgrade to Photoshop CS4.



You can check out cool videos by:

• Bert Monroy's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
• Matt Kloskowski's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
• Chris Orwig's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
• Kevin Ames' Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
• Rich Harrington's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4

This is part two of our article on effectively compressing video for the web and multimedia. Be sure to read part one if you haven’t done so.

Need to get your video delivered to your audience? Then there’s probably going to be some compression involved. Don’t let hardware or software get in your way. Let’s take a common sense approach to getting your video out there.

Pick Your Power

There are tons of compression tools out there, but the pro apps offer important features like batch processing, multiple architecture support, and customizable presets. The five most popular options are:

Read More...

This is part two of our article on effectively compressing video for the web and multimedia. Be sure to read part one if you haven’t done so.

1.) De-interlace your video: Most video files are interlaced, which means that half of one image is blended with half of the next. On a Television this produces smoother motion, on a computer it produces junk.

2.) Lower your audio standards: Most users are listening to computer audio on tiny speakers. Cutting your sample rate to 22 or 11 kHz and the sample size to 8-bit will often produce unnoticeable audio changes but huge space saving.

3.) Shrink the window: While you don’t need to make video postage stamps sized. But reducing the window to half size creates a file that is 25% the file size of the original. That’s a BIG savings in space.

Read More...

Successfully getting a video file delivered to your audience usually means it will be compressed (heck it’s often compressed just so we can work with it in the first place). Making the video file available to your target audience is your goal, but the challenges of hardware, connection speed, and even operating system can affect the decisions you make. Let’s take a common sense approach to getting your video out there.

Read More...

There’s been a lot of ho-hum reviews on the Apple TV… too much of this, not enough of that… but these have all been focussed on the consumer space and the living room.  What I’m here to tell you is why video pros should care about the Apple TV (and why we swear by it in my shop).  Here are a few reasons we use Apple TV at my shop, RHED Pixel.

Read More...

Author & video podcaster Richard Harrington shows you how you can make "cookies" and use them to enhance the look of your sets or locations.

Following up on my "Really Cool Adobe Announcements" post...

Adobe has actually posted their "secret" presentation from NAB. Hart Shafer talks about four cool things Adobe has up their sleeve.



You SO need to watch this... trust me. BTW (for those of you waiting... they did show OnLocation for Mac in this demo).

Adobe released the Adobe Media Player software on April 9, which allows a customizable, cross-platform media player experience. Built using the Adobe AIR runtime, the media player harnessed the power of Flash to create a rich media experience. To complete the experience, Adobe adds support for both RSS feeds and H.264 video, two of the open standards used by the podcasting movement.

What does this all mean? I had a chance to sit down with Deeje Cooley, who serves as an evangelist for Adobe’s Dynamic Media Organization (and formerly as the product manager for the Adobe Media Player). Cooley was tasked with bringing the product to market and he shared insight into Adobe’s motivation for the product and goals for its role in the market. Unlike competing products, the Adobe Media Player has chosen to focus on being a video-only player.

“The growth of video online, the dramatic growth of flash as the video delivery mechanism of choice… there was a ripe opportunity to take advantage of all these events around the industry,” said Cooley. “We started to build an RSS aggregator and quickly recognized that video was going to be a significant media online and so it became a video RSS aggregator. And so that’s really the birth of the Adobe Media Player.”

MUCH MORE AFTER THE JUMP

Read More...

Adobe showed some awesome stuff at NAB. My favorite was a future version of Premiere that transcribes your footage, then makes the transcription searchable for both editing and publishing to the web. I was going to do an in-depth write-up.... but then I got busy (still will).

In the meantime. Check out this article for details.
http://www.peachpit.com/blogs/blog.aspx?b=a75e92b0-f44f-4dfb-9eb4-96920bcaddc1

I'll be presenting at this year's New Media Expo in Las Vegas. The event runs August 14-16 and I hope you can come out. My class is called:

Producing Video Podcasts with Multiple Cameras
Want to cut down editing time and give your show more polish? Learn how to create video podcasts using multiple cameras. Join veteran podcaster Richard Harrington as he shows how to harness multiple angles to improve your show. From concerts and live events to demos and interviews, multiple cameras will help you tell your story. Learn how to setup and match your cameras as well as essential editing techniques. This workshop will make multi-camera productions a snap.

I just released two newly updated Final Cut Pro discs. We updated our Absolute Training for Final Cut Studios Disc 1 & 2. Both DVDs are full current for Final Cut Studio 2 and include hands-on training files as well as HD resolution training and iPod files.

Apple Final Cut Pro
Volume 1: Getting Started in Final Cut Pro
Volume 2: Going Deeper in Final Cut Studio

Also, you may have missed that we recently released the following titles. These also include HD and iPod versions on the same disc.

Apple Color
Volume 11: Introduction to Color
Volume 12: Advanced Color
Bundled for Savings

Apple Motion
Volume 13: Getting Started with Apple Motion
Volume 14: Going Deeper with Apple Motion
Volume 15: Advanced Techniques with Apple Motion
Bundled for Savings

Thanks to all the great people who attended my classes at NAB this year. It was a ton of work to prep (and I must admit I needed some rest when I got back home). As promised, the class notes and resources have been posted to the Handouts section (be sure to browse for other resources as well).

Here's the list of what's available.

01 Fast Start with Adobe Photoshop for Video Pros – Slides | Book Sample
02 Video Podcasting Essentials – Slides
03 Selling Podcasting to Your Clients – Slides
04 A Sense of Perspective with Vanishing Point – Slides | Practice Files
05 Creating Movement within Photos with After Effects CS3 – Slides | Practice Files 1 | Practice Files 2
06 Directing Video Podcasts – Slides
07 Project Management for Video Pros – Slides
08 In-Depth: Video Production for the Web – Slides
09 Creating a Graphic Identity for Your Web Video – Slides [Enhanced PDF]
10 Render Faster: Wait Less and Play More in Adobe After Effects – Slides
11 Storyboard Techniques with Adobe Photoshop – Slides
12 Creative and Animated DVD menus using Photoshop – Handouts
13 Automating Broadcast Design with Photoshop – Slides
14 Seeing a New Light: FCP Color Correction – Slides | DVD

This is an excerpt from an article to be released in full later this week:

Adobe released the Adobe Media Player software on April 9, which allows a customizable, cross-platform media player experience. Built using as an Adobe Air application, the media player harnessed the power of Flash to create a rich media experience. To complete the experience, Adobe adds support for both RSS feeds and H.264 video, two of the open standards used by the podcasting movement.

What does this all mean? I had a chance to sit down with Deeje Cooley, who serves as the evangelist for Adobe’s Dynamic Media Organization (and formerly as the product manager for the Adobe Media Player). Cooley was tasked with bringing the product to market and he shared insight into Adobe’s motivation for the product and goals for its role in the market. Unlike competing products, the Adobe Media Player has chosen to focus on being a video-only player.

“The growth of video online, the dramatic growth of flash as the video delivery mechanism of choice… there was a ripe opportunity to take advantage of all these events around the industry,” said Cooley. “We started to build an RSS aggregator and quickly recognized that video was going to be a significant media online and so it became a video RSS aggregator. And so that’s really the birth of the Adobe Media Player.”



The Adobe Media Player is immediately available as a free download for Windows and Macintosh platforms from http://www.adobe.com/go/mp.

Digital Media Wire has a very interesting article about the fate of HD-DVD. Seems Wal-Mart had dropped HD DVD (along with Best Buy and Netflix).
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Toshiba "is expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format in the coming weeks." THR noted, however, that Toshiba says no official decision has been made. "Given the market developments in the past month, Toshiba will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players," Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products, told THR. Toshiba had hoped that slashing the prices on its HD DVD players last month would help bolster sales, but subsequent sales data from NPD showed that Blu-ray maintained its wide sales lead despite the move.  

• Related Links:
• http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5673.aspx
• http://tinyurl.com/2wn5fe (Hollywood Reporter)
• http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2008/02/15/wal-mart-drops-hd-dvd%3B-toshiba-expected-pull-plug

Just wanted to let you know that Amazon is running a special on the new Final Cut book I co-authored. They've got the book for less than $20 (thats a third off the cover price).

Book Description
Packed with more than 500 techniques, this book delivers what you need to knowon the spot. It is suited to editors of all experience levels, whether you are:

• Migrating from another NLE
• Upgrading to Final Cut Studio 2
• Seeking a handy reference to raise your proficiency

Read More...

This is just awesome, Calibrated Software has a bunch of new plug-ins on tap that make it possible to work with MXF and DVCPRO HD codecs. This will streamline P2 workflow for both Mac and Windows users, as well as make it easier to move DVCPRO HD material to a PC. I promise a detailed review soon. The codecs cost $49 each. Here's the info.

QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Apple
For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Mac OSX (Intel) and importing native P2 MXF Files into Final Cut Pro Studio 2 Applications (see Read Me)
Please note: The P2 MXF plugin has NOT been tested in long form projects in FCP Studio 2 Applications and the DVCProHD Codec should NOT be installed if the Apple DVCProHD Codec is already installed.
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.4 (Tiger) - Intel Only
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.5 (Leopard) - Intel Only
Download Read Me
Download License Agreement

QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Windows
For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Windows (see Read Me)
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for Windows
Download Read Me
Download License Agreement

Lot of bugs lately with QuickTime (especially in pro video applications). We've personally seen issues in both Final Cut Pro and After Effects.

Apple has released a new update to QuickTime... lets hope it's elusive “improves compatibility with third-party applications” actually means something.
Visit http://www.apple.com/support/quicktime/ for more information.

Author and video podcaster Richard Harrington explains how you can compress your video for podcast with Stomp from Shiny White Box.



Like the podcast? Subscribe for FREE.

Video podcaster and author Richard Harrington explains how to compress your podcasts fast using the Turbo.264.



Like the podcast? Subscribe for FREE.

Looking to share some advice on Final Cut Pro? Then take a look at our Weekly Tip Widget.

You are welcome to share this with others and add it to any website.

I've launched a new resource site called Final Cut Help to offer you more news on Final Cut Studio as well as centralize all of my Final Cut resources and training products. Here are a few things you may like.

• Tip of the Week – Thanks to Focal Press

• Podcasts – Back Episodes and New Subscriptions
• Forums – In partnership with Creative Cow
• Conferences – New Events and Notes from previous classes
• Blog – For all the latest news

As always... comments and requests are very welcome.

Those who know me personally, know I am very passionate about podcasting. I have been hard at work for the last year on a new book on just that, video podcasting. My business partner, Mark Weiser, and I have taken many of the hard lessons learned at RHED Pixel and put them into a book. The book is full color and richly illustrated, plus there will also be a companion website and podcast launching in January.

The book ships in February, but you can get the biggest discount by pre-ordering it from Amazon.com.

I wanted to let you all know about a great training conference coming up, the Editors Retreat. I've been to this event five times now and it is fantastic. It's a chance to network and learn from the bet editors in the business. It is truly an amazing event and I encourage you to have a look.

Here are some sessions I look forward to attending.

• Scene it: Color Correction as a Storytelling Tool – Steve Hullfish
• Keynote Presentation – Oscar-nominated Editor, Sally Menke
• Everything You Need to Know About Audio – Coll Anderson
• Your Professional Future: What To Do in The Next Year to Stay Ahead –Bob Donlon
• Keynote Presentation – Emmy-nominated Editor, David Helfand

I am very proud to tell you that the new book Final Cut Studio on the Spot is shipping. This third edition has a ton of new things including dedicated chapters on Multi-camera Editing and HD (and the audio chapter is HUGE). In told, more then half the book is new... so if you own a past edition, this update is worth it (and if you don't have it.. then go now). This time Robbie Carman came on board with some helpful tips and tricks.

• Optimize system performance
• Create impressive titles with Generators, Motion, LiveType, and Photoshop
• Work quickly with buttons and keyboard shortcuts
• Color correct to save vital shots, and keep them broadcast legal
• Fix and mix for professional-quality audio
• Design and import graphics seamlessly
• Integrate with other applications including Motion, Soundtrack Pro and Color
• Manage media and backup strategies
• Export and publish finished projects to tape, DVD, or the Web

Get the book here for the best price.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the 2007 European Radio Conference presented by the National Association of Broadcasters. The event was held in Barcelona, Spain and was a lot of fun. I presented two sessions and a panel along with the talented David Lawrence. For those who intended (and other interested parties) you can download the notes here.

Podcast Compression Techniques

Beyond Audio – Using Enhanced Audio and Video in your Podcast Feed

I just had a great time at the New York Post|Production conference. For three days media pros gathered in New York movie house for the latest in digital media tools. I had the opportunity to teach a lot of new classes as well as show some of my favorite techniques. Here's the notes and a few demo files to play with.

01 Photoshop CS3 for Motion Graphics and Video | Book | DVD Available
02 Apple and Adobe – A Great Toolbox | Project X | Resizer Template
03 Beat the AE Render Queue
04 Media Management in Final Cut Pro | DVD Available
05 How to Sell Podcasting Services to Your Clients
06 Things You Might Not Know About After Effects CS3 | Puppet Tool Files | Vanishing Point Files
07 Multicam Editing Strategies in Final Cut Pro
08 Field Production Strategies for Video Podcasting
09 Creating a Graphical Identity for Your Video Podcasts (enhanced PDF)
10 Motion Control 3D | Demo Files | VPE Demo
11 Advanced Color Correction in Final Cut Pro | DVD Available

If you came to either of my classes at Podcast and New Media Expo. I just wanted to offer you the handouts and resources. Heck.. even if you missed the show you might like these.

CLASS ONE – Field Production Strategies for Video Podcasting
The rules of the studio don't apply the same in the field. In this session you will learn how to properly capture your video content outside of a controlled environment and unpredictable lighting and background noise. You also learn how to achieve the best results when encoding files for various output devices. See how the experts retain overall quality with an overview of the latest methods and technologies. This session will also share best practices for multi-camera productions.

• Slides
• Multicamera Advice for FInal Cut Pro
• Production Resources

CLASS Two – Creating a Graphic Identity for Your Podcast
Designing a look and feel for your show is essential. Here are some slides with work samples included. We took a look at the following Shows – Final Cut Help, Understanding Adobe Photoshop, Secrets of Style with Kim Foley, On Software, and Photoshop for Video.

• Slides
• Reference Books

If you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show this weekend, consider checking out these free classes on the show floor. Podango is offering an “Unconference,” a featured program of the Podcast and New Media Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at the Ontario Convention Center.

Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...

I just wanted to let you know, the new book on Final Cut Studio is on the presses (this means it will be in your hands soon). Here's the official description (I promise a sample chapter in a few days).

“Packed with more than 500 techniques, this book delivers the time-saving workflow processes that experienced editors want to improve their productivity, and wow their clients. No need to wade through tomes of documentation. 'Final Cut Studio On the Spot' presents immediate solutions in an accessible format. Written by Apple-certified trainers, it clearly illustrates all the essential methods that pros use to get the job done efficiently and creatively. Screenshots and step-by-step instructions show the way.”

The book is completely updated with new tips in every chapter. There are also two completely new chapters on Multi-camera Editing and HD Workflow. Amazon has the book on sale... I hope you enjoy!

If you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show this weekend, consider checking out these free classes on the show floor. Podango is offering an “Unconference,” a featured program of the Podcast and New Media Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at the Ontario Convention Center.

Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...

If you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show this weekend, consider checking out these free classes on the show floor. Podango is offering an “Unconference,” a featured program of the Podcast and New Media Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at the Ontario Convention Center.

Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...

If you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show this weekend, consider checking out these free classes on the show floor. Podango is offering an “Unconference,” a featured program of the Podcast and New Media Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at the Ontario Convention Center.

Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...

Interested in Motion Graphics? The check out the evolving MographWiki which has a nice collection of user contributed content and articles. Its a great place to browse for ideas and talent. There's a lot of useful things up here including:

• Business
• Community sites
• Companies
• Freelancers
• History
• Notable Individuals
• Notable Works

The NAB Podcasting Summit was a success! We had a ton of great folks come out to fins out more about podcasting. One of the shows, Viral interviewed me about the conference (I was the Program Manager for the conference as well as a speaker). Their show is all about the folks making Internet TV... think of it as an insider's perspective on the whole 'podcasting thing.'

Check out what you missed (plus watch some of the other episodes too). Take a look at Episode 19 for more on NAB.

Website – http://www.veoh.com/channels/viral

iTunes – http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=210822188&s=143441&i=15723852

Okay... I'll admit that the words "pro video codec" and "white paper" won’t elicit excitement in many of you. But Apple has released details about this new format for video. What is exciting is that you get better quality at smaller files sizes (in plain English things look better and cost less to store on drives). So... maybe you can do something else like skydive to add excitement into the mix.

For those who want the tech-know-how.... check out the white paper. It’s only 11 pages and is filled with great info for video pros who need to create video or motion graphics for mac-based systems.

Thanks for being patient (its been a whirlwind of CES, Macworld, and family time).
I finally have the majority of my CES Handouts online. You can access them here or in the Conference Handouts section.

01 Creating Dynamic Presentations with PowerPoint 2007
02 Planning your Digital Video Project
03 Using Rich Media to Attract Customers
04 Blogging and Podcasting PDF | Audio
05 Photos and Video on the Web | Video Notes

Enjoy!

Looking for some free training? The folks from DV Expo have put up one of my classes on Designing HD Graphics. The class is streaming video and it also has the slides synchronized and shots of the HD Graphics I design for the crowd. The class was taught at DV Expo West back in November, but you can take it for free. You'll need to register, but that only take 45 seconds and again... it's free. Be sure to set some time aside (this is a 2.5 hour class). Fortunately there are chapter points and you can digest it in pieces. Plus there are many other great classes there including legal issues facing creatives, Flash video, and video camera tips.

Enjoy!

To those who attended, sorry for the short delay in getting my final notes up. Friday turned into a day of recovery, but you'll now find all of the notes posted. While you are in the handout section, feel free to poke around and look at other resources. You'll find lots of ideas that will help you out with projects.

If you wanted to take advantage of our DVD discount (10% off at VASST.com) be sure to enter the code GVEXPO at check out.

While I was traveling for DV Expo, we decided to pick up a new digital audio recorder. After an exhaustive search, we decided upon the Microtrack 24/96 from M-Audio. This recorder has proven very flexible as we can use it several ways.

• It can be patched into a soundboard easily with three different connection types
• It can be connected to a video camera's headphone port to record audio
• It has an attachable mike for quick voice records of meetings or creative sessions

The feature list is pretty impressive as it offers pro options at a reasonable price. It's important that you download the latest software updates (which are free) but the whole package is great. I love being able to both charge and transfer data via a USB 2 cable. Don't let some of the inexperienced Amazon reviewers throw you off, I trust the recommendation of Douglas Spotted Eagle any day.

If you attended our classes at DV Expo in LA, you'll want to check out the PhotoshopforVideo.com Conference Handouts section. We had four great classes including the hot topic of podcasting. We shared our experiences of creating video podcasts with the crowd and tried to educate and inspire the audience to try it for themselves. Check out the handouts for yourself.

I've posted conference notes from my sessions at NAB New York. If you attended any of my classes, be sure to have a look. Even if you didn't attend, you might find the resources useful. The two most popular classes were Color Correction for Final Cut Pro and Motion Control 3D. If you couldn't attend (or want to go deeper) both of these have DVDs available from VASST.com.

The Editor's Retreat has announced even more speakers and sessions.

• The Evolving Role of the Editor
• State of the Union by Avid, Apple, & Adobe
• Power Tools - Photoshop Automation, Small Format Tips: iPods and Beyond
• Color Grading Theory and Techniques
• Business Track: Freelancers, Boutique Owners, Facility Managers

 
Speakers who've been added that we know and work with:
 

• Steve Bayes
• David Bigelow
• Christopher Phrommayon
• Marcus Geduld
• Abba Shapiro
• Yan Shvalb

The Editors Retreat is an unparalleled industry event, exclusive to highly experienced editors of film, TV and video. To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process by a committee of peers. Running for 5 days and 4 nights, the Retreat will only be open to approximately 75 qualified applicants.

The Retreat’s focus will be evenly split between high-end technical sessions and ‘the world behind the timeline’ – the creativity and the craft of the editor, and the business of creating a thriving editing career. Presenters include award-winning editors and icons from the editing world, alumni of previous FMC ‘Master Editor’ programs and known industry power users.

Tired of trying to open your media files in a variety of players only to suffer from incompatibility and versioning issues? Video Lan Client (or VLC) is the most universal player I've found. In my tests, I opened Windows-formatted media files on my Mac with surprising success. I also see greater compatibility on the Windows side as well (plus an easier-to-use interface than Windows Media Player). If your Web video experience seems incomplete, or you are looking for another app to test your media files before distribution, be sure to check this one out. You can open and view pretty much any form of audio or video on both a Mac or a PC (or any flavor of Linux for that matter).

A few folks commented about my desktop pattern at a recent conference. It seems the old 'Indian head' pattern evokes some memories in many audience members.

Well the version I had comes from a Russian designer named Art. Lebedev. You'll find it and several other pieces of artwork on his posters page. For the test pattern, scroll down to the bottom and you'll find it in the right column. All are free to download.

As Photoshop World winds down, its time for homework. Be sure to check out the conference handout section for extra notes and practice files. If you took a class with me, I hope you enjoyed. Have fun and keep learning.

When using Final Cut Pro, it's a little too easy to corrupt your user preferences (especially if you have multiple video decks hooked up). This useful program allows you to quickly backup and restore your user preferences. This shareware program allows you to save the following:
• User preferences
• Audio/Video settings
• System settings
• Windowsettings
• Keyboard setup
• Easy setups

Free download